Lock bolt for gas-service cocks



IF. W. JAUCH LOCK BOLT FOR GAS. SEFVICE COCKS Sept. 4, 1923.

Filed April '7, 1922 Frederik Him-Jain]! 9 d I I 2,, flarncfl? I Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC WM. JAUCH, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCK BOLT FOR GAS-SERVICE COCKS.

Application filed April 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnnnnrc WM. JAUOH, a citizen of the Republic of Russia, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Look Bolts for Gas-Service Cocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to locking-devices and more in particular to lock-bolts intended for use in connection with gas servicecocks and meter-cocks.

The primar object of this invention is to provide a simple device for preventing the unauthorized opening or closing of gasoocks. A further object is to provide means for sealing cocks in open or closed position. Still anotherobjectis to provide a lock-bolt of very simple construction and which can be manufactured at low cost without requiring complicated or expensive machinery.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the preferred construction of my lock-bolt.

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a slightly modified construction of my lockbolt.

Figures 1 and 5 are perspective views showing the application of my lock-bolt to a lock gas service cock of the usual design, for the open and closed positions thereof.

Referring to the drawings, my invention consists of a straight metal rod 1 having its two ends bent at right angles thereto and in the same direction to form the legs 2 and 3, of suitable length. The longer leg 2 is threaded practically its whole length and carries a permanent nut 4, acting as a shoulder, and a removable nut 5. Two suitably sgaced holes 6 and 7 are drilled through leg 2, whereas but one hole 8 is provided adjacent the lower end of leg 3. The purpose of these holes is to enable passing through both legs the seal-wire 9, which is afterwards held in position and against unauthorized removal by a seal 10, of any suitable and desired design.

The construction of the lock-bolt shown fragmentarily in Fig. 3 difiers from the one just described in that the permanent nut 41- is replaced by the collar 11, formed integrally on the leg 2, by the drop-forging process preferably.

The various part of my lock-bolt having been described, the application thereof will 1922. Serial N0. 550,264.

now be explained, reference being had to Figures 4 and 5. As is well known, the usual gas-cocks 12 leading to the gas-meter of a residence are provided with a stationary lug 13, mounted on the body of'the cock, and a lug 14 secured or cast on the plug 15 of said cock. In these lugs are the holes 16 and 17 respectively which are placed at the same radial distance from the center of the cock, so as to be in axial alignment when the upper lug occupies the closed position illustrated in Fig. 5.

To look the cock in the open position shown in Fig. l-,the threaded leg 2 is inserted in the hole 16 and the shorter and smooth leg 3 is passed through the hole 17, provided in the movable lug 14. The threaded leg is now clamped on the stationary lug by means of the nut 5; the sealingwire is then run through the holes 6 and 8 and properly fastened by means of the seal 10.

hen the cock is to be locked in its closed position, shown in Fig. 5, thethreaded leg 2. is inserted through the now coinciding holes 17 and 16 and clamped thereon by the nut 5. The seal-wire is then passed through the lower hole 7 and the hole 8 in log 3, which is now free, and the seal 10 is finally applied.

The importance of locking the gas-cocks with my sealed lock-bolt will be readily understood when it is borne in mind that during the cold season many people keep the gas-heater burning in their sleeping rooms during the night. If the cooks be not locked and sealed, it is easy for a criminally inclined person to turn off the gas supply cock for a few moments, thus extinguishing the gas-heaters in the rooms, and then reopen the cocks into their former position. The sleeping persons would then be exposed to death by gas inhalation and the criminal cause thereof would be almost impossible to detect. The criminal intent would. naturally be found out very easily if the cooks were provided with my lock bolt, as the cooks cannot be operated without breaking the seals.

Criminal intent is notthe only danger to which people sleeping with their gas-heaters working are exposed. In apartment build ings, for instance, the meters for the various apartments are generally installed in the basement, side by side. Now, in case that some gas-leak or other unforeseen,

trouble should compel a tenant to go into the basement to turn off his gas supply, itmay easily happen thathe turn the wrong cock. Upon finding out his error, he will return to the basement to turn ofl" his meter, he may then unthinkingly turn on again the meter he first operated and thus expose his neighbors to asphyxiation.

It is the intention to have the seals aflixed to my lock-bolts by authorized agents of the gas companies or by licensed plumbers who would all be supplied with their individual seals, thus practically eliminating the substitution of seals by wrong-doers.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be had, and while I have shown and described my invention as embodying a -specific structure, I desire that it be understood that I may make such changes in said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope ot-the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

LA lock-bolt, for lock gas service cocks, comprising a substantially horizontal rod having both ends bent downwardly to form two substantially parallel straight legs; one of said legs being threaded and the other leg being smooth.

2. A lock-bolt, for lock gas service cocks, comprising a substantially horizontal rod having both ends bent downwardly to form two parallel straight legs; one of said legs being threaded substantially its whole length and having a shoulder posi tioned adjacent the bend thereof,and the other leg being smooth.

3. A. lock-bolt for lock gas service cocks, comprising a substantially horizontal rod having both ends bent downwardly to form two parallel straight legs; one of said legs being threaded substantially its whole length and having a shoulder positioned adjacent the bend thereof; a removable threaded nut engaging said leg; the other leg being smooth.

4. A lock-bolt, for lock gas service cocks, comprising a substantially horizontal rod having both ends bent downwardly to form two parallel straight legs; one of said legs being threaded substantially its whole length and having a shoulder positioned adjacent the bend thereof; a removable threaded nut engagng said leg; said leg having aplurality of spaced holes drilled therethrough; the other leg being smooth and having a hole drilled therethrough at a point adjacent its lower end.

5. 'A lockbolt, for lock gas service cocks, comprising a substantially horizontal rod having both ends bent downwardly to form two; parallel straight legs; one of said legs being threaded substantially its whole length and having a shoulder positioned adjacent the bend thereof; a removable threaded nut engaging said leg; said leg having a plurality of spaced holes drilled therethrough; the other leg being smooth and havinga holedrilled therethrough at a point adjacent its lower end, and a sealing-wire engaging one hole in each leg.

6. In combination with a lock gas service cock, a lock-bolt comp-rising a substantially horizontal rod having both ends bent downwardly to form two parallel straight legs; one of said egs being threaded substantially its whole length and having a shoulder positioned adjacent the bend thereof; a removable threaded nut engaging said leg; said leg having a plurality of spaced holes drilled therethrough; theother leg being smooth and having a hole drilled therethrough at a point adjacent it lower end, itlld a sealing-wire engaging one hole in each In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERIC WM. JAUCH. 

